Mounting for vacuum tubes



Sept. 8, 1931. M 1,822,535

MOUNTING FOR VACUUM TUBES Filed Sept. 50, 1929 /70/? 6. R L. UM

ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 8, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE GEORGE n. LUM, on NEW YORK, N. Y., AssreNon 'ro BELL TELEPHONE LABORATORIES, INCORPORATED, on NEW YORK, N. Y., A oonronnrroN on NEW YORK MOUNTING FOR VACUUM TUBES Application filed September 30, 1929. Serial No. 396,115.

frame when it is being shipped or otherwise handled.

In accordance with this invention, there is provided a suitable supporting frame embracing, a vacuum tube socket which is secured to an inertia mass resiliently suspended from the supporting frame by damped helical springs and is prevented from rotating by radially disposed springs located at the ends of the frame. The inertia mass is provided with a-locking device which is capable of rigidly attaching the inertia mass to the,

mounting frame when the mounting is to be shipped or subjected to handling. In one em odiment of the invention, this locking device comprises a rod secured to the inertia mass which carries a cross-pin at one end to engage a detent in a plate forming part of the supporting frame, and .at the other end,

projects through a plate and provided with a locking member which secures the mounting to the frame. When it. is desired to protect the mounting in transit the locking member is tightened to raise the rod and inertia mass connected thereto until the cross-pin engages the detent plate whereupon the tube mounting is held rigid. When the locking arrange- .ment is released the suspension spring and inertia member amply protect the vacuum tube held in the socket from shock and external vibration.

A more complete understanding of this invention will be obtained by referring to the attached drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 shows a partially broken side elevation of a vacuum tube mounting rigidly secured within a frame ready for transportation or other handling;

Fig. 2 is a partially broken rear elevation of the same mounting showing more clearly the suspension means therefor and the nature of the locking device employed to maintain it rigidly secured when being transported or handled; l Fig. 3 is a plan view of the mounting shown in Fig. 1 and illustrates the arrangement of the upper centering. springs; v

Fig. 4 illustrates the positions assumed by the upper and lower centering springs of the vacuum tube mounting when it is freely suspended within the frame; and

Fig, 5 shows the arrangement c: the lower centering springs.

Referring now to the various figures, there is shown a frame 1 for a vacuum tube'mounting. This frame consists of two rectangular shaped members 18 "spaced apart by the bowed metallic members 23 and the hard rubber members.12 which are secured to said members 18 by screws 43. Within the frame is a block 2 of a material of high density, such as lead. To this block, better termed an inertia mass, is fastened by means of bolts 4, which project through the corner portions of said block, and nuts 5, the brackets 3. The bolts 4. and nuts 5 at the lower corner portions of the block 2 also act to secure to said block the U shaped member 32 whose vertical legs 34: extend beyond the members 12 and are spaced slightly therefrom. By means of screws 6, base plate 7 for a plurality of vacuum tube sockets 8, is mounted upon said brackets. The contact springs 9 are insulatively secured to the plate 7, as shown, and are connected with the terminals 11 on the hard rubber frame members 12 by flexible rubber-covered conductors 10, some of which, to shorten their lengths and also to prevent their interference with the mounting, are drawn through the openings 38 in the block 2.

Integral with the block 2, or passing through and secured thereto in a suitable manner, for instance, by the pin 39, is a rod 13 whose threaded extremity 33 is engaged by a wing nut 1 1v secured to a washer 15 having portions of .diflerent diameter whose portion 40 of smallest diameter is capable of engaging with a circular aperture 16 in a horizontal cross member 17 secured to opposite sides 37 of the upper rectangular frame member 18. Near the lower extremity of the rod 13, which projects through an aperture 4-1 n the cross member 25 secured to opposite sides of the lower rectangular frame member 18, a flanged member 20 is sweated thereon and through an opening therein in line with a drilling in the rod 13, a pin 19 is positioned. From the flange 21 of member 20 to the lower frame member 18, extend helical springs 22 enclosing a suitable damping material to prevent sustained mechanical oscillations in said springs. lhe pin 19 is shown engaged with the detent 2st in member 25 which is secured to the frame member 18 by means of screws 26. A flanged member 27 similar to member 20 is provided at the base of the threaded portion 38 of the member 13. From its flanged portion 28 extend diagonally disposed helical springs enclosing suitable damping material and whose extremities engage with openings in the flange 28 and in the frame member 18. Secured to the sides 37 of the upper frame member 18 by means of screws 31 are angle irons 30. The screws 31' alsoserve to fasten member 17 to member 18. Each member is provided on its horizontal surface l2 with a number of small drillings in which the looped extremities of spring members are capable of engaging the portions 34 of the member 82 and those portions of the brackets 3 perpendicular to the face of the block 2 are provided with similar drillings. Extending between said members on each side of the vacuum tube mounting are six helical suspension. springs 35 enclosing a suitable damping material 36, such as cotton wioking.

Figs. 1 and 2 show the vacuum tube mountingin its locked position ready for transportation or other handling. The wing nut has been tightened down on the threaded end of the rod 13, such that the block 2 and lower portion of the rod have been drawn upward to cause the pin 19 to become engaged with the detent 24 whereby the ordinarily resiliently suspended vacuum tube mounting is ri 'dly secured against movement within the fr 'ame 1. When the mounting is thus locked, the tension in the upper springs 29 and the slightly angularly disposed suspension springs 35 is partially relieved.

To unlock the mounting, thawing nut is loosened until the cross-pin 19 disengages.

I with the detent and the block 2, or inertia cupy their sockets and are resiliently sus pended by their mounting, the lower springs 22 are substantially horizontal.

The spring suspension arrangement has been found particularlyeificientinprcventing the transmission of vibrations and other entraneous noises to the vacuum tubes carried by the inertia member.

What is claimed is:

1. A shock-proofing mounting for a vacuum tube comprising a supporting frame, a resilient support therein for said vacuum tube, and means for preventing movement of said support, said means comprising a member having at each extremity rigid means for se curing the support to said supporting frame.

2. lln 'a shockroofing mountin for a vacuum tube, a rame, a support for said vacuum tube comprising an inertia member upon which said vacuum tube is mounted, a plurality of springs extending upwardly from said inertia member to said frame and providing resilient suspension for said inertia member, an elongated member secured thereto, and a plurallty of springs near each er.- tremity of said elongated member extending lid 'between the frame and said elongated memher to center said inertia member within said frame.

3. In a shock-proofing mounting for a vacuum tube, a frame, a support or send vacuum tube comprising an inertia member upon which said vacuum tube is mounted a plurality of springs extending upwardly from said inertia member to said frame and providing resilient suspension for said inertia member, an elongated member secured thereto, and a fplurality of springs near each extremity 0 said elongated member extending between the frame and said elongated memher to center said inertia member within said frame, the springs secured to one extremltyo of said elongated member being positioned in a horizontal plane when the vacuum tube 1s being resiliently supported.

42. In a shock-proofing mounting for a vacuum tube, a frame, a resiliently suspended inertia member upon which said vacuum tube is mounted, an elongated member secured to said inertia member, springs extending between said elongated member and the frame for centering the inertia member therem, elements in said frame having a ertures through which the extremities of sai elongated member project, and means at each extremlty for rigid engagement with said elements whereby the mounting may be secured against movement within the frame. a

5. In a shock-proofing mounting for a vacuum tube, a frame, a socket for said vapuum tube, an inertia member upon which said socket is mounted, an elongated member socured to said inertia member, elements in the upper and lower portions of said frame hav ing apertures therein through which the extremities of the elongated member roject, and rigid means engaging said extremities for securing said vacuum tube mounting .to the frame. V

6. A shock-proofing mounting for a vacuum tube as claimed 1n claim 5 in which the element in'the lower portion of the frame having an aperture therein is provided with a grooved portion and the elongated member is provided at that extremity which passes through said aperture with means for engaging with said grooved portion.

. A device to prevent movement of an ordinarilyresiliently supported apparatus mounting within a frame, comprising an elongated member having means at each extremity for rigid engagement with said frame. 4

8. A device to prevent movement of anordinarily resiliently supported apparatus mounting within a frame, comprising an elongated member having near one extremity a pin passing therethrough capable of engaging with an element of said frame, and at the other extremity means thereon for rigidly securing said pm to said frame element.

In wltness whereof, I hereunto subscribe myname this 27th day of September, 1929.

GEORGE R. LUM. 

